Best Parks Melbourne 2026 — Nature Walks & Reserves

Parks and Nature Reserves in Melbourne 2026

Melbourne's parkland network is one of the world's most comprehensive for an urban area — the city's inner parks (Carlton Gardens, Fitzroy Gardens, Royal Botanic Gardens) are UNESCO World Heritage-listed, while the surrounding ranges and coast hold world-class national parks within 90 minutes. parks.vic.gov.au

National Parks Near Melbourne

• Dandenong Ranges National Park — 40km east of Melbourne. Mountain ash forests, Sherbrooke Forest, Kokoda Track Memorial Walk and the tourist village of Sassafras and Olinda. parks.vic.gov.au
• Mornington Peninsula National Park — 80km south. Ocean beaches, Cape Schanck lighthouse walk, Cape Woolamai and the Bushrangers Bay Walk. parks.vic.gov.au
• Yarra Ranges National Park — 70km east. Tall mountain ash forests, the Black Spur Drive, the Maroondah Reservoir and alpine scenery.

Melbourne's Urban Parks

• Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne — Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra. 94 acres of botanic garden on the Yarra River's south bank. World-class gardens. Free entry. rbg.vic.gov.au
• Carlton Gardens — Carlton. UNESCO World Heritage-listed garden surrounding the Royal Exhibition Building. museumsvictoria.com.au
• Fitzroy Gardens — Spring Street, East Melbourne. Heritage gardens with Captain Cook's Cottage and elm tree avenues.

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